Staring prior to and continuing ever since having been drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 18th round of the 2006 Draft, the ex-Cuban Amaury Antonio Cazaña (Marti) has never worn any particular uniform for very long.
Such is the case here in 2009, as the outfielder has again been dispatched to Mexico for the Mexican League season. Instead of returning to last year’s club or the one from the year prior, Cazaña is now donning the threads of a third league entry, the Guerreros de Oaxaca.
It is at least his 15th uniform change in the last five years alone, all since his escape from Cuba in April, 2005. Initially using his mother’s maiden name, Marti, the player is now going by Amaury Cazaña.
Coming into Saturday, Cazaña had already put in four games for Oaxaca, having gone 5-for-16 at the plate with a line of .313/.313/.688 or a cool OPS of 1.001. Of course, there was never a doubt that he can hit. In 266 career games in affiliated ball through 2008, his line is .323/.393/.524.
The doubts start with his age, which is 30 years old if you believe the player’s own words as he insisted to me two years ago and readily accepted by the Cardinals. On the other hand, multiple Cuban baseball websites listed Cazaña as having been born four years earlier. In an odd twist, MiLB.com also goes with the earlier birth date.
Other questions have to do with Cazaña’s future. After having received a non-roster invitation to St. Louis Cardinals spring training camp in 2008, he did not get such an offer in 2009. Cazaña did make one appearance when he was called over from the minor league fields for a bit of garbage-time action with the big club.
Another even more telling indication of his future is the fact that there was no place for Cazaña to play with Triple-A Memphis for the second consecutive season. Last year, he managed 28 games there before being shipped out at the conclusion of a stint on the disabled list. This time, he was gone before the Redbirds left Florida.
Sure, he could always be recalled from Mexico, but there are many ahead of him.
Consider these members of the Redbirds. Brian Barton, Nick Stavinoha and Joe Mather all have MLB experience and places on the 40-man roster, while Jon Jay had an impressive big-league camp and even Shane Robinson opened some eyes in limited action this spring.
Even if he can’t see the major leagues from his current perspective, at least Cazaña can brag about having compiled a most interesting and diverse travel itinerary in recent years. He had played on numerous national teams in Cuba since at least 1997 before escaping to Mexico in 2005.
He then moved to the USA, where he suited up for a handful of games with one independent team and was embroiled in a contract dispute with another before making a celebrated appearance at the Cardinals Minor League Spring Training camp in March, 2006, where the anonymous newcomer blasted several long home runs including one that traveled out of Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter.
The Cardinals thought as a Cuban, Cazaña was eligible to be signed on the spot, but quickly learned he had to go through the draft instead. This was due to the fact that he had established residency in Florida and therefore was no longer considered a foreigner.
Four years later, though he is a US resident living in Miami, Cazaña remains an international traveling man – sort of a 21st Century baseball-playing barnstormer.
Here are some of the uniforms Cazaña has worn in the last five years alone – 15 changes by my count and I have likely missed a few along the way:
- Elmira Pioneers of the independent CanAm League: 2005
- Shreveport Sports of the independent Central League: 2005 (under contract)
- Palm Beach Cardinals of the A-Advanced Florida State League: 2006
- Springfield Cardinals of the Double-A Texas League: 2006
- Peoria Saguaros of the Arizona Fall League: 2006
- Petroleros de Minatitlan of the Triple-A Mexican League: 2007
- Back to Springfield: 2007
- Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League: 2007
- Indios del Boer of the Nicaraguan Winter League: 2007-2008
- St. Louis Cardinals: 2008 Spring Training
- Memphis Redbirds of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League: 2008
- Diablos Rojos del Mexico of the Mexican League: 2008
- Tigres de Licey of the Dominican Winter League: 2008-2009
- Memphis again: 2009 Spring Training
- Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League: 2009
I don’t get it. Three weeks ago or something, John Mozelliak said point blank that he would play this season in Memphis as an outfielder. He didn’t hedge at all. We keep hearing what this guy can do. Why won’t the organization give him a chance to do it? If he fails, so be it, but don’t leave him in Mexican purgatory. It’s not right to him or to the club.
It is an odd limbo, but Amaury just loves to play ball. Every time I have ever spoken with him, including as recently as two weeks ago, he has the same positive attitude. Apparently both he and the Cardinals are happy to have him around somewhere, anywhere.
Yet here is what I said in a Scout insider article back in December of 2006: “He should be pushed quickly and he will either cut it or be gone.” That didn’t happen – at least not in the manner I envisioned.
Mo must have mispoken.
A year or two ago, Casana said he liked Mexico. The food and culture is closer to his native Cuba.
Maybe the Cards dispatch Amaury to different Mexican teams as a roving ambassador of good will? This helps Luhnow cultivate more friendships within Mexico, while Amaury feels at home with the Spanish culture, a win-win.
If it seems kind of funny…… it probably is kind of funny. I could think of a few reason without looking much deeper. Good will?
Mexico is a difficult market to break into, because the local teams will corral many of the better amateurs. Then the Cards have to pay off the local team, like the Red Sox had to pay off a team in Japan $50MM for the rights to D-Mat. To gain Salas, we had to pay his team in Mexico more than $200,000. To cultivate friends in Mexico, we can loan Cazana to different pro teams down there, in hopes that someday we get a chance at signing some young Mexican players with ML upside.
For his part, Cazana gets to play in Mexico, which he likes. Amaury probably has a closet stuffed with diverse and interesting uniforms. Who would not like to own a few Red Devil uniforms?
In the cover photo, Cazana wears a batting helmet that looks like it has an oil derrick on the side. This must be when he was a Petroleros! Nifty.
Above, Cazana is seen in a uniform of Indios de Boer, Nicaragua.
Last summer, Amaury was a Diablos Rojo!!
This summer, Cazana will sport the proud uniform of a Guerreros.
The Oaxaca Guerreros must be the Warriors, just like Russell County, Alabama. No wonder Pedro was a tough out.
What type of MLB player is he supposed to be??? If the cards don’t seem to have room for him I wish they would trade him or release him. Even a .285/.355/.475 would seem to be better than alot of AL teams are putting out there at DH.
Shane,
The Cardinals control the guy and have no reason to release him as long as they can find a place for him to play.
As for his impressive numbers, they are quite a bit less shiny when the Mexican League stats are tossed out. I had listed them somewhere on another thread but the new stats at baseball-reference include the Mexican League stats among his total.
Having read about such Mexican League heroes as Hector Espino and such, I am inclined to toss the Mexican league stats out with the fish bones. The league is rated as AAA but almost certainly rates a lot lower. every year somebody seems to hit .430 or so. The playing conditions, the wider array of talent and range of experience all contribute to the veracity of statistics, not to mention umpiring and scorekeeping.
I trust that our staff has evaluated him and has made decisions based on how he has looked in live BP, fielding drills and running. If they like what they see in Mexico, he can be brought back. I won’t be holding my breath.
As one of the older posters on this board, I would be among the first to scream “age discrimination!” but his age has to be taken into consideration.
Professional baseball is a pyramid, not unlike the wondrous Mayan site at Chichen-Itza. It’s a lot easier to get to the top of the pyramid in Mexico than it is in baseball.
Cazana reminds me of the international aspects of the Cards in general, hence a broader post.
The Cards rejuevenated their Latin program in 2005. The biggest signing that year was muscular OF Edgar Lara, $250K. They inked Donovan Solano and Jose Martinez, probably not expensive since not speedy. Now Solano and Martinez are up to AA, showing Latin guys can move up the ladder, if a team gives them a reasonable opportunity. Its not just a matter of scouting and signing the right players, but teaching them and giving them a chance. In 05, the Cards also inked the Dominican who will play 1B at Quad Cities.
In 2006, the highest bonus was to a Veneuzelan SS Romulo Ruiz, who had an arm injury and missed 2008. The 2nd highest bonus was Venezuelan CF Parejo.
They expanded the recruitment in 2007, signing about 8+ bonus guys, the highest being Cuban OF Ryde Rodriguez, now at Quad Cities, and Venezuelan catcher Kevin Moscatel who should be on a short season team. In 2008, a few bonuses escalated, with Dominican 3B De la Cruz over $1MM, a pitcher Santo Franco and a Venezuelan SS Valera at over $500K each. It is going to take a couple of years for young signees to make a mark and it can be a time-consuming climb.
The Cards also sign modest bonus amateurs. Some can produce well, like Dominican closer Fernando Samuel, Venzeulan pitcher Richard Castillo, Dominican catcher De la Cruz, Dominican pitcher Amaury Castillo, Panamanian pitcher Archimedes Nieto, etc. Establishing the GCL team and providing better teaching and more playing time provide a process by which Latin players can climb up the ladder.
The Gulf Coast League team lost a lot of games last year. The Venezeulan and Dominican teams had losing records. These tended to be youthful teams. If these three teams improve in 2009, it might indicate the maturation of young signees.
The Cards should have about 36 Latin signees in Extended Spring Training. They must be using EST aggressively for player development.
Brian’s Quad Cities roster has FA signing dates. 1B Osvaldo Morales signed in March 05, so probably did not get a fat bonus. IF Domnit Bolivar signed in July 05, so probably got a bonus, though the Cards were not investing too highly back then. Arquidemes Nieto signed in April, also not a peak time. Even if there is publicity about bonus babies, there are plenty more promising players who are not.
Another guy who is climbing the ladder is Elvis the Mosquito Hernandez, reliever at AA. The Cards signed him about the same time as Osvaldo Morales, March 05. They must have done a crash recruitment for staffing a Dominican Summer League team. I like the way a team can apparently find 6’3″ athletes at the drop of a hat in the Dominican, ready to play ball.
Elvis pitched well in the DSL in 05. He moved up to Johnson City in 06. In 07, he started at Quad Cities. In 08, he spot started and relieved at Palm Beach. Its now 2009 and the Mosquito is ready to sting Texas League hitters.
Latin signees on minor league teams:
Memphis: 0
At Springfield (5): relievers F. Samuel, Elvis Hernandez, and Linares; SS Solano; IF Jose Martinez (presently away from the team).
At Palm Beach (2), starting pitcher Castillo and reliever Sanchez
At Quad Cities (7), 1B Morales, IF Bolivar, C Espinoza, OF Ryde Rodriguez; starting pitchers Nieto and Cardenas; reliever Tapia,
EST to stock three rookie league teams: about 38
Beau, you don’t consider Salas and Rivera Latin signings?
Salas I had omitted since injured. Rivera is likewise out of Mexico. Palm Beach’s head count should be 3, Memphis 1 (on the DL). Quad Cities could easily increase a couple during the course of the upcoming season. This comparison by team (1, 5, 3, 7) illustrates the unsurprising point that the influx of “new program” Latin signees is hopping up the ladder, with numbers increasing behind pioneers at the upper levels.
The Reds must have rejuevenated their Latin efforts a little earlier. In 2004, Johnny Cueto was a 5’10″ kid signed for a few thou out of San Pedro de Macaris, he a non-fictional “Sugar” now in the Show. In June 06, the Cards inked slender Franciso Samuel from the same town. No July 4 bonus baby. Samuel must have velocity, so the Cards brought him up to the Gulf Coast League in 07, where he racked up terrible numbers because it can be hard to combine velocity with control. In 08, Samuel jumped all the way up to Palm Beach, still had control challenges, but has a live arm. It is interesting so much talent can be unearthed in the Dominican via tryout camps, likely without big bonuses.
Where will Do La Cruz play this year?
I believe there are two players with the last name De La Cruz. One guy is a bonus baby 3rd baseman who the Cards have suggested they might start at Johnson City (which seems a big jump for first pro experience). The other one is a catcher, who played at Quad Cities and at Batavia last summer, but was held back by some injuries. He could reappear at either team this summer. Since both of these guys could be pretty good, maybe they should sign still more guys with the same name.
Cazana is currently fourth in the Mexican League in slugging at .765. Through 34 ABs his line is .294/.368/.765, including four home runs.